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Precision medicine to treat advanced and rare cancers
Inova Molecular Tumor Board was formed to help match people dealing with rare or recurring advanced cancers with personalized treatment designed to treat the characteristics of their specific cancer.
Meeting personally with the team of physicians, geneticists and other clinicians that make up the board, eligible patients and their family receive recommendations for treatment based on the genetic makeup of the patient's tumor.
Read our frequently asked questions for more information about the board and the treatment process 
A new level of patient-centered care
Cancer treatment is moving beyond the administration of chemotherapy drugs chosen to treat cancer in a specific part of the body – the breast or the colon, for example. Now the genetic characteristics of a tumor can be analyzed to learn more about its DNA. Then treatment recommendations such as a new medication or admission into a clinical trial are made on the basis of those findings. Generally these treatment options are not readily accessible to other physicians. The treatments hold the promise of targeting and killing cancer cells within the tumor while minimizing side effects and damage to normal cells.
Patient participation in the treatment decision-making process is key to Inova Molecular Tumor Board's goal of patient-focused care. This philosophy is unique among tumor boards nation wide. We feel strongly that the patient and family should be present at the tumor board meeting and included in the discussion. Other tumor boards usually meet independently and hand down a recommendation. Our belief is that by interacting together, the patient and family gain a better understanding of possible options and benefit greatly from the personalized experience.
Our team of experts
Members of the Inova Molecular Tumor Board are affiliated with Inova Schar Cancer Institute or Inova Translational Medicine Institute, both at the forefront of genomics and cancer research. These oncologists, geneticists, biochemists and clinicians are experts in their field. They share a commitment to patient-centered care, which is the hallmark of the Inova Molecular Tumor Board.